Actor's Express plans to Loot Atlanta, Nov. 9-Dec. 23. The classic Joe Orton comedy is the second entry in the company's 2000-2001 season. K. Elizabeth Stevens (Dallas Theatre Center's upcoming Wit) directs.
The loot of the farce's title is a stash of cash acquired in a bank robbery by friends Hal and Dennis. In order to protect himself from the snooping detective Truscott, Hal plots the perfect hiding place for his ill-gotten gains: his mother's coffin. His plans are complicated by sexy nurse Fay, whose last seven husbands died under mysterious circumstances - and who has picked out his father, Mr. McLeavy, as her next groom.
Orton is best known for his farcical comedies, Entertaining Mr. Sloane and What the Butler Saw, and for being murdered in 1967 at the height of his career by his lover.
Billy Murphey is Truscott with Daniel Pettrow as Hal McLeavy and Brit Wittle as Dennis. Donn Wright plays Fay, Daniel Burnley is Mr. McLeavy and Mark Wallace is Meadows.
Designing the show are Daniel Meeker (set and lighting), Bart McGeehon (production manager, props design), Tina Hightower (costumes) and Jil Melancon (sound). Tickets are $25-$20 with preview tickets at $10 and the opening night gala at $65. For reservations, call (404) 607-SHOW. Actor's Express is on the web at http://www.actorsexpress.com.
— By Christine Ehren